Mumbai women 'more aware, alert' after Delhi gangrape

Increased awareness among women of their rights in case of any untoward incident is one of the three factors that have played a big role in the rise in number of cases of crime against women being registered in the city, said the police.

“Three factors have resulted in the rise in number of cases registered. Awareness among women is at an all-time high following the Delhi gangrape. Secondly, women have begun to feel the need to report any kind of misbehaviour and are now coming forward with complaints. The third factor is that we have issued orders to all police stations to register all types of complaints and look into the same,” said Sadanand Date, joint commissioner of police (law and order).

Commenting on the rise in cases of crime against women by around 140%, former IPS officer-turned-lawyer YP Singh told HT: “Apart from the awareness, registration of incidents a cognizable offences is another reason for rise in cases. Earlier, the police would manipulate details in such incidents. They would register such complaints as non-cognisable offences and there would be no action,”

“However, with the force having been pulled up, these complaints are now lodged as FIRs and thorough investigation is conducted,” Singh said.

The debate among various factions of the society following the Delhi gang rape has also helped women know their rights.

“Now, there is better understanding about the law and hence women have stopped brushing aside incidents of injustice they are subjected to,” Singh added.

Sociologist Nandini Sardesai said: “Rape has always been a part of the Indian society. However, following the Delhi incident, the media has taken up the issue and since it has been rightly blown up, we are seeing more complaints being registered with the police.

“I would not go by the rise in numbers to conclude that there is rise in crime. The statistics are only a variant to the rising awareness among women,” said Sardesai.